Tougher A-levels pass the grade

Record numbers of students claimed places at British universities today after
more took the tough A-level subjects seen as a vital gateway to higher
education.

students took to Twitter to tell how they have been awarded places despite seemingly falling short of offers. Photo: Nick Ansell/PA

By Graeme Paton and Josie Ensor

10:00PM BST 15 Aug 2013

Data published by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service showed that almost 386,000 applicants had been accepted onto courses – up by 31,600 in just 12 months.

It is believed that more students gained places after taking A-level exams in a range of academic disciplines favoured by the most sought-after institutions. Maths, further maths, biology, chemistry, physics and geography were all named among the top 10 fastest growing subjects over the last year.

At the same time, fewer pupils sat exams in “soft” subjects repeatedly criticised as lacking academic rigour, including communication studies, critical thinking, media studies, business studies, performing arts and general studies.

The head of one of Britain’s biggest exam boards, OCR, said that students were becoming “more and more savvy about choices they need to make at A-level for the career they want”.

The confirmation of university places came despite a drop in the number of A-levels given the very top grades – A* and A – for the second year in a row.

It suggests that some universities may have dropped their entrance requirements in an attempt to fill places. This avoided a repeat of 2012 when thousands of courses were left empty following a drop in grades and rise in tuition fees.

Birmingham University awarded around 1,000 “unconditional” offers to students this year – giving them places irrespective of final marks.

Other students took to Twitter to tell how they have been awarded places despite seemingly falling short of offers.

Large numbers of universities – including two-thirds of members of the Russell Group – are also still advertising spare places through the clearing system.

Prof David Green, vice-chancellor of the University of Worcester, told the Telegraph that the admissions process was a success this year but added: “I think you will find that there will be universities who will be making lower offers in their harder-to-fill subjects.”

Some 300,000 teenagers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland received their A-level results on Thursday.

In a series of developments, it emerged that:

*The number of papers graded A*/A was down from 26.6 to 26.3 per cent in 2013 – the second consecutive drop and the second largest year-on-year fall since A grades were first awarded in the mid-60s;

* Some 88,060 pupils took maths exams this year and a further 13,821 studied further maths – an increase of more than 50 per cent over the last decade;

* Biology, chemistry and physics all appeared among the top 10 fastest growing subjects, with the sciences now accounting for almost 18 per cent of all A-levels compared with 15 per cent four years ago;

* At the other end of the spectrum, subjects suffering the largest drops included physical education (down 14.5 per cent to 14,441), general studies (down 11 per cent to 31,562), media studies (down nine per cent to 29,112) and drama (down eight per cent to 13,864);

* The number of pupils taking foreign language A-levels plummeted to a record low, prompting an exam board inquiry into the state of the subject;

* The top-performing school in the country was Queen Elizabeth’s grammar for boys in north London, where more than 98 per cent of exams were graded A* to B.

UCAS confirmed on Thursday morning that 385,910 applicants had been awarded places. It was a nine per cent rise on 2012 when a toughening up of A-levels combined with the introduction of £9,000-a-year tuition fees for the first time led to a drop in the number of university admissions.

David Willetts, the Universities Minister, insisted that students were not being put off by the fees, adding: “Students of course recognise they don’t pay the tuition fees upfront.

“They pay back as graduates if they are in well-paid jobs earning over £21,000 a year and I think young people understand that.”

Neil Bentley, deputy director-general at the Confederation of British Industry, said: “It’s clear students are being savvier in the face of higher degree costs and a tougher labour market, by taking subjects which maximise their future job chances.

“Higher take up in science and maths is good news, given the critical skills gaps in key sectors, like manufacturing and engineering, which drive long-term growth.”